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Why the Many-Worlds Interpretation Has Many Problems
Quanta Magazine ^ | October 18, 2018 | Phillip Ball

Posted on 10/19/2018 6:27:03 AM PDT by C19fan

It is the most extraordinary, alluring and thought-provoking of all the ways in which quantum mechanics has been interpreted. In its most familiar guise, the many-worlds interpretation (MWI) suggests that we live in a near-infinity of universes, all superimposed in the same physical space but mutually isolated and evolving independently. In many of these universes there exist replicas of you and me, all but indistinguishable yet leading other lives.

The MWI illustrates just how peculiarly quantum theory forces us to think. It is an intensely controversial view. Arguments about the interpretation of quantum mechanics are noted for their passion, as disagreements that can’t be settled by objective evidence are wont to be. But when the MWI is in the picture, those passions can become so extreme that we must suspect a great deal more invested in the matter than simply the resolution of a scientific puzzle.

(Excerpt) Read more at quantamagazine.org ...


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: physics; quantum
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To: Seruzawa

Dawkins? He’s a biologist.


21 posted on 10/19/2018 7:45:51 AM PDT by Taipei
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To: C19fan

The quantum level is not the level of hard physical existence, and thus comparing quantum events with what events can take place at the physical level, and believing that comparison is valid, is a scientific escape hatch used to get around what science does not understand.

Just because something “could” happen is not “proof” it does happen. The extra dimensions myth just escapes having to explain why the act of oberservation impacts that which is being observed. They don’t understsnd how that happens, so they pretend all possibilities are happening.


22 posted on 10/19/2018 8:03:37 AM PDT by Wuli (u)
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To: C19fan

No, there are an ‘infinite’ number of POSSIBLE positions for the particle to be in. When a measurement is taken, the wave collapses to one discreet position. Until collapse the wave shows the probability, hence the name, of where the particle will be found. This is different from saying the particle exists at an infinite number of positions.


23 posted on 10/19/2018 8:26:52 AM PDT by sparklite2 (See more at Sparklite Times)
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To: sparklite2

That is the Copenhagen position. The MWI states that all possible outcomes come true in split off worlds which means an infinite number of such split offs.


24 posted on 10/19/2018 8:29:46 AM PDT by C19fan
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To: C19fan

Break out the merkabas. It’s time to go inter-dimensional!


25 posted on 10/19/2018 8:30:46 AM PDT by RideForever
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To: C19fan

I love this stuff...


26 posted on 10/19/2018 8:44:41 AM PDT by broken_arrow1 (I regret that I have but one life to give for my country - Nathan Hale "Patriot")
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To: C19fan

“It is the most extraordinary, alluring and thought-provoking of all the ways in which quantum mechanics has been interpreted.”

No, it’s the dumbest, most meaningless, and least scientific...


27 posted on 10/19/2018 8:50:06 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: BipolarBob

Wait, you are still working on the quest?!?

You must have missed the warp zone in level 4-2 that takes you right to the final boss battle.


28 posted on 10/19/2018 8:53:40 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Rurudyne
Some people need a proverbial infinite number of monkeys to avoid the thought of Shakespeare.

Bingo!

I love multiverse theory. My first observation when the subject comes up is that it implies an infinity of universes without a God, and an infinity of universes with a God. So: in which do we live, and how would we tell?

Tip-toeing on into the zen of infinities, there can be only one infinity that is godless. But since God or Gods can come in an infinite variety of numbers and types, there would be an infinity of infinities of universes with one or more deities. Pascal's wager is not an even balance.

29 posted on 10/19/2018 8:53:40 AM PDT by sphinx
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To: Moonman62

Hugh Everett also suffered from severe depression. It runs in the family - his daughter committed suicide. I read a book about growing up with him by Mark Everett, the lead singer (and basically everything else) for the rock band The Eels.


30 posted on 10/19/2018 8:58:40 AM PDT by dead
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To: C19fan

It’s comforting to know that in some alternate universe, Hitler died in childbirth and Obama lost the election in 2008. But then we would have been stuck with McCain until Palin succeeded him 8 years later instead of Trump.


31 posted on 10/19/2018 8:59:37 AM PDT by broken_arrow1 (I regret that I have but one life to give for my country - Nathan Hale "Patriot")
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To: Rurudyne
It is exactly the same issue and same fallacy. The solution to explaining the singular genius of Shakespeare is instead to posit the collaboration of two [or more] such geniuses, e.g. the explanation of a highly improbable occurance is multiple such improbable occurances.

The solution here, to the problem of understanding quantum mechanics is to posit an infinity of such simultaneous problems to understand. It's utter nonsense and provides no path forward for understanding what happens in the world that we can observe or at least the world that I inhabit and observe and observe all of you observing, whether you are separately real or not.

32 posted on 10/19/2018 9:00:55 AM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: AndyJackson

Life’s to short for all of this...


33 posted on 10/19/2018 9:05:41 AM PDT by goodnesswins (White Privilege EQUALS Self Control & working 50-80 hrs/wk for 40 years!)
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To: dead

Mark Everett is the one who found his father dead (in this Universe).

As a bit of trivia, Hugh Everett was the doctoral student of John Wheeler, one of my favorite physicists. Wheeler probably has the most impressive list of doctoral students, ever.


34 posted on 10/19/2018 9:09:21 AM PDT by Moonman62 (Give a man a fish and he'll be a Democrat. Teach a man to fish and he'll be a responsible citizen.)
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To: fwdude

“...silly dirt people running around with their grandiose ideas.”

LOVE IT. Consider it stolen. Have a great Sunday.

Isaiah 55:9 - For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.


35 posted on 10/19/2018 9:17:42 AM PDT by HeadOn (Time to prosecute Hillary. Please. Pretty Please...)
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To: HeadOn
LOVE IT. Consider it stolen. Have a great Sunday.

No problem, I "stole" it myself.

"19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."
- Genesis 3:19

36 posted on 10/19/2018 9:24:24 AM PDT by fwdude (Forget the Catechism, the RCC's real doctrine is what they allow with impunity.)
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To: Rurudyne
"Some people need a proverbial infinite number of monkeys to avoid the thought of Shakespeare."

Wow. This is worthy of Chesterton.

37 posted on 10/19/2018 10:17:23 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: rightwingcrazy
"This article transitions abruptly from a discussion of different scientific models to one that is purely philosophical."

An increasing number of scientists are starting to believe that after having done away with religion it is now about time to do away with philosophy.

However, there are questions that science will never answer such as: Why do science? What constitutes science? When is science being done? What is the purpose of science?

If in defining the scientific method scientists use the term 'observer' but then come up with a scientific theory that obliterates the observer, then they need to rethink their definitions, i.e. they need help from philosophers.

38 posted on 10/19/2018 10:24:43 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: a fool in paradise
f you are both sinner and saint in the multiverse do you have any free will, can there be any redemption, and do all of the variants experience the same united afterlife? ———-

We are both sinners ( by nature) and saints (through salvation) in THIS universe. 😉

39 posted on 10/19/2018 11:41:08 AM PDT by KittenClaws ("They've got Daryl's Dad's car! .....Red Dawn)
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To: KittenClaws

100% and 100% saint?

That is multiverse, taking two branches off the same path.


40 posted on 10/19/2018 11:56:34 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Denounce DUAC - The Democrats Un-American Activists Committee)
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